Gas producer



5mm 16, 1931. I VAN EN 1,810,738

GAS PRODUCER Filed Oct. 19. 1927 Patented June 16, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ARTHUR P. VAN HEEDIEHV, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO UNIVERSAL OIL PROD- UCTS COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF SOUTH DAKOTA GAS PRODUCER Application filed October 19, 1927. Serial No. 227,068.

' p The present invention relates more particularly to improvements in apparatus for the generation of producer gas for domestic and industrial purposes.

An object of the invention is to produce a sufiicient supply of decomposed steam to permit the continuous operation of gas producers. Another object of the invention is the enhancement of the B. t. u. value of the gas produced by effecting the decomposition of steam before it enters the active portion of the fuel bed whereby the oxygen in said steam is utilized to support the combustion of the fuel, thus reducing the amount of air necessary and avoiding in part dilution of the gases produced with the inert gases in the air while at the same time enriching the gas with free hydrogen from the steam.

In the operation of gas producers of the present type, they must be brought to an operating temperature by the introduction of air to ignited fuel. After operating temperature is reached, both air and. steam are introduced, the steam while decomposing having the tendency of gradually lowering the temperature within the producer. When temperature is reached too low to produce the desired results, the supply of steam is shut ofi and air again is forced into the fuel bed to raise the temperature.

It is readily apparent that such an operation is ineflicient and wasteful, and does not supply a steady, uninterrupted flow of gas.

The present invention permits the continuous introduction of steam without reducing the temperature in the roducer below an efiicient point, thus avoiding the necessity of periodically interrupting the production of the gas to restore the producer to an operating temperature by means of an air blast.

Other objects as well as the utility of the invention, will be more apparent from the following detailed description.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a conventional type gas producer equipped with the device of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional View of the device.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the same.

Fig. 4 is an elevational view partly in vertical section of a modified form of the device.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, 1 designates a gas producer utilizing my device which may be of any suitable conventional design. It may for instance, comprise a partial combustion and gasifying chamber 2 and a fuel supply chamber 3 which may be suitably enclosed in a shell 4 made of a suit able refractory material. A water preheating jacket 5 may surround the upper portion of the producer. A grate 6 may be provided at the bottom of the partial combustion chamber which may be of any desired type and into which a combustion supporting medium such as air may be injected through preheating flues 7 surrounding part of the partial combustion chamber, which flues extend below the grate to a. zone which forms at 8, the ash pit of the gas producer. The fuelsupply chamber 3 may be provided at its upper end with a suitable hopper 9 which may be closed by a sealing cap 10 actuated in an obvious manner.

Steam or water may be supplied to the partial combustion chamber 2 through pipe 11, in which is interposed the valve 12. Combustion of fuel in the gas producer may be initiated in any well known manner and need not be described in detail. The producer may be provided with producer gas outlet pipe 13 in which is interposed the valve 13. A combustion supporting medium such as air may be supplied to partial combustion chamber 2, through pipe 14 in which is interposed valve 15, the purpose of which will be hereinafter described.

The above described parts are conventional, and no claim for novelty is based on the particular construction of the producer.

Positioned in the partial combustion chamber 2 is my improved device designated as a whole at 16. Referring more in detail to the enlarged view of element 16 shown in Fig. 2, 17 designates a cap-likemember made of any suitable material such as metal, and spaced from the discharge 18 of steam inlet pipe 11. The base 19 of the cap 17 may be open and may be suitably attached to the plate 20 which may be spaced from the edge of thebase of said cap. Steam introduced through pipe 11 may issue from the mouth 18 inside 7 the cap 17 where it contacts the highly heated walls of said cap, flowing downwardly. By reason of the high temperature, which may be sayQOOO degrees F. more or less, and the presence of a catalyst as hereinafter described, the steam will be substantially decomposed into. its elements by the time it reaches the base 19 of the cap from which it flows out between the base and plate 20 into the bed of incandescent fuel in chamber 2, where the oxygen may combine with the carbonaceous material to form carbon dioxide, or carbon monoxide, depending upon the condition of operation. The free hydrogen either leaves the gas producer in its natural state, or reacts with the carbonaceous material to form methane, or similar products, depending upon the conditions of operation.

Air introduced through pipe 14 may issue at 21 and may be deflected by plate 20. Passing around plate 20 the air may pass upwardly into the chamber 2 and cause the fuel to burn intensely adjacent the walls of the cap 17, and thus produce the high temperature necessary to decompose the steam within the said cap member.

It is advisable to construct the cap 17 of a metal which is not readily attacked by free oxygen, and will at the same time withstand the high temperatures within the combustion zone of the producer. Chrome nickel and chromium alloys may be used to good advantage.

It has been found that these alloys have catalytic properties and may further the decomposition of the steam.

Fig. 4 illustrates a modified form of the device shown in Fig. 2. A cover 22 may be integrally or otherwise attached to the base 19 of the cap 17 and one or more orifices or holes 23 may be provided adjacent the base to permit the decomposed steam to enter the fuel bed.

The walls of the cap 17 may be corrugated as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 to increase the heating surface thereof, if desired.

By means of the present invention, it will be apparent that I have provided a device whereby steam used in a gas producer is decomposed prior to physical contact with the hot gases by the heat transmitted indirectly to it from the fuel bed. Thus the partial combustion within the producer is not retard ed by undecomposed steam, and continuous operation of the producer ispossible.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a gas producer, a gasifying chamber and means for supplying fuel thereto, an inverted metallic cap member disposed Within said gasifying chamber, a steam inlet pipe extending through said gasifying chamber into said cap member and terminating adjacent the upper portion of the latter whereby steam introduced through said inlet pipe is caused to travel downwardly through said cap member in contact with the walls there of, a steam outlet at the lower portion of said cap member whereby the steam is discharged from the cap member into said gasifying chamber, and an air inlet pipe terminating directly in said gasifying chamber outside of said cap member and independent thereof whereby air may be introduced directly into said gasifyiugchamber independently of the steam introduced to said cap member.

2. In a gas producer, a gasifying chamber and means for supplying fuel thereto, an inverted metallic cap member disposed with in said gasifying chamber, said cap member being corrugated to thereby increase the heating surface thereof, a steam inlet pipe extending through said gasifying chamber into said cap member and terminating adjacent the upper portion of the latter whereby steam introduced through said inlet pipe is caused to travel downwardly through said cap member in contact with the walls thereof, a steam out-let at the lower portion of said cap member whereby the steam is discharged from the cap member into said gasifying chamber, and an air inlet pipe terminating directly in said gasifying chamber outside of said cap member and independent thereof whereby air may be introduced directly into said gasifying chamber independently of the steam introduced to said cap member.

3. In a gas producer, a asifying chamber and means for supplying uel thereto, an inverted conical metallic cap member disposed within said gasifying chamber and having an open lower end, a steam inlet pipe extending through said gasifying chamber and terminating adjacent the upper portion of said cap member whereby steam introduced through said pipe is caused to travel downwardly through said cap member in contact with the walls thereof and to be discharged through said open lower end into said gasifying chamber, a baflle adjacent said open lower end and disposed within said gasifying chamber for deflecting the steam outwardly away from said cap member, and an air inlet pipe extending into said gasifying chamber and terminating adjacent the lower side of said battle. I

In testimony whereof I atfix my si nature.

ARTHUR P. VAN HEE EN. 

